National Catholic Forensic League

Updated on Dec 12, 2023

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Website http://ncfl.org Type of business Nonprofit organization		Founded 1951

Key people Charles Sloat, President Roberta Hyland, First Vice President Barbara Fontenot, Second Vice President Michael Colletti, Executive Secretary – Treasurer Susan Peebles, Publicity Director / Recording Secretary Roland Burdett, National Tournament Director Similar National Speech and Deba, Pennsylvania High School S, National Christian Forensics, Stoa USA, National Association for Urban

The National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) is a speech and debate league that was formed in 1951. It is organized into regions which correspond to Roman Catholic dioceses. Member schools include both public and parochial high schools. The NCFL recruits member schools in both the United States and Canada. As of January, 2011, there were 65 active dioceses with NCFL leagues. The IRS recognizes the NCFL as an organization eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable donations.

The NCFL sponsors the Grand National Speech and Debate Tournament held each year over Memorial Day weekend. It offers an array of events similar, but not identical, to those of the National Speech and Debate Association.

Events

Dramatic Performance – A ten-minute memorized performance of a dramatic or humorous selection of literature.

Duo Interpretation of Literature – A ten-minute memorized performance of a dialogue, story, or script by two performers, who are required to maintain off-stage focus and to not look at or touch each other.

Oral Interpretation of Literature – A ten-minute reading event, alternating between Prose and Poetry each round.

Extemporaneous Speaking – A seven-minute analytical / persuasive speech on a question of current events, given with only 30 minutes' prior notice.

Oratorical Declamation – A ten-minute memorized performance of a historical speech, commencemnent address or former competition speech to be delivered as if it were the speaker's own address. Limited to freshmen and sophomores.

Original Oratory – A ten-minute memorized original speech delivered to inspire or persuade the audience.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate – Value debate on a topic chosen by the NCFL specifically for the Grand National Tournament. Four Minutes of preparation time is allotted to each debater per debate.

Policy Debate – Two-person, switch-side, cross-examination debate, with five minutes of preparation time per team, on the national topic.

Public Forum Debate – A team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. The focus of the debate is a clash of ideas in a persuasive manner that can be understood by a "lay" judge. Side and speaking order are assigned to each team every round in order to ensure students have the opportunity to debate both sides of a topic.

Student Congress – Mock legislative sessions where students debate bills and resolutions submitted by schools from participating dioceses.

Officers

The 2014–2016 Officers of the NCFL are as follows: President: Charles Sloat of Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York; 1st Vice President: Roberta Hyland; 2nd Vice President: Barbara Fontenot; Executive Secretary-Treasurer: Michael Colletti; Publicity Director/Recording Secretary: Susan Peebles of Iroquois Senior High School; Grand Tournament Director: Roland Burdett.

Past Officers

National Tournament Director

Past National Tournament Directors

Public Forum Debate

2007 – Dennis Howe and Rob Wyllie

2008- Jonathan Freidman and Jeanine Sinan-Singh, Trinity Preparatory School, Florida

2009 – Danny Welch and Will Miller

2010 – Bud Peters and Thomas Pigott

2011 – Brian Grumka and Thomas Pigott

2012 (?)

2013 – Cameron Silvergate and Ethan Goldstein

2014 – Tim Perevozchikov and Zach Kirsch, Hawken School, Ohio

2015 – Ben Kessler and Jakob Urda, Stuyvesant HS, New York

References

National Catholic Forensic League Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

Events

Officers

National Tournament Director

Public Forum Debate

References